master of arts in leadership for sustainable communities

Good leadership is the spark that ignites the energy and talents of others to achieve great things, and fuels relationships that sustain the community. We live in many “communities”—our neighborhood and city, our workplace and profession, and interest groups such as faith communities, parent-teacher organizations, or athletics. All of these communities need ethical leaders with moral courage, and the skills and knowledge to move confidently forward. The Masters in Leadership for Sustainable Communities empowers our students to understand today’s complex issues and forge relationships among people and between people and the planet that will sustain healthy communities for the long run.

Lead for Sustainable Community Development

Maybe you've got a passion for being a leader for sustainability in the business, government or non-profit sector. Maybe you're concerned about community issues and want to become an agent for social change. Or maybe you're just looking for a flexible degree that announces your commitment to a better society locally or globally. Whatever your goals, the Master of Arts in Leadership for Sustainable Communities degree can help emerging leaders develop their potential with a course of study that's as unique as you are.

Get your degree on time and on target

With three semesters a year, our Master of Arts in Leadership for Sustainable Communities program lets you earn your degree at a faster pace than traditional programs. Most students take two classes per semester, which allows you to finish your MALSC within two years. There are several class formats and time slots, including night classes, that you can choose from to help fit your busy lifestyle.

Customize what you study

You’ll build yourself a course of study that fits your individual needs and interests. The MALSC graduate program is flexible and allows for some personalized curricular design. At Alvernia, you can explore your passions and study topics that have meaningful significance to your educational pursuits.

You'll find the MALSC courses are designed to help you become an agent of social change through critical discussion, analysis of community issues, and multidisciplinary perspectives. Our small class sizes help ensure you’ll receive personalized learning and attention. And before you graduate we will help you lead a community project. Every MALSC student designs a capstone project, using their leadership skills and knowledge to partner with a community organization to implement a change that increases sustainability in the community.

Learn from culturally and environmental-savvy faculty and instructors

Our faculty members and instructors have real-world expertise as impressive as their academic backgrounds. Committed to adult learning and furthering your education, they continually refine what they teach to reflect what’s really happening in the communities.

The skills you need to be in demand

Developed by faculty with decades of experience in community development, our Master of Arts in Leadership for Sustainable Communities curriculum will give you invaluable insight and teach you to effectively engage the community. The course of study asks you to:

Develop an interdisciplinary awareness of culture, environment and economics

Reflect on a variety of world-views

Experience the meaning of community.

Deal directly with conflict and tools for conflict resolution

Consider our roles as citizens for social and environmental justice

Take intellectual risks by contemplating difficult choices

Investigate methods for community preservation and cultivation

Develop and implement sustainable service-oriented projects

Define activism through engagement

Explore fundamentals of economics and over-consumption

Explore environmental principles and anthropocentrism

Explore cultural ethnicity, heritage and globalization

Discuss the impact of technology on culture, economics, and environment

Analyze case studies through critical writing and thinking

Synthesize and implement solutions to real-life problems

For more information about the Master of Arts in Leadership for Sustainable Communities program, view the curriculum required for this degree, read about the MALSC program in our Graduate Brochure (PDF), learn more about our admission process, or request more information.